Most Dialysis patients know that grapefruit can greatly complicate their Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis health outcomes. Unfortunately, grapefruits (including grapefruit juice and other grapefruit-containing products) contain a number of compounds that inhibit certain enzymes in the liver and intestines which can be very dangerous and costly for Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis and Transplant patients. Well, a piercing study has found that there are hidden sources of grapefruit in common beverages. Some of them are considered to be "okay" for Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients.

Grapefruit which is considered a high potassium fruit, was found in Twenty-three (23) beverages and many did not carry the word "grapefruit" in their product name. For instance, the following is just a few products named that contained verifiable amounts of hidden grapefruit or grapefruit extract ingredients:

Squirt/ Diet Squirt
Ruby Red Squirt
Sun Drop/ Diet Sun Drop
Citrus Blast
Canada Dry Citrus Blend
Nestea Citrus Green Tea
Country Time Lemonade
Crush
Snapple (citrus tea flavors)
Sierra Mist
Stewart’s
Sunkist
Multiple flavors of 7-up

Refer to the following short list of common medications taken by Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients which are disrupted due to consuming grapefruit or its byproducts:

Immunosuppressants: cyclosporine (Neoral), tacrolimus (Prograf)
Pain medications: methadone
Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs): lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor, Vytorin)
Calcium channel blockers (blood pressure drugs): nitrendipine, felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
Antiarrhythmics (treat abnormal heart rhythms): amiodarone (Cordarone)
Psychiatric drugs: buspirone (BuSpar), triazolam (Halcion), carbamazepine (Tegretol), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), sertraline (Zoloft)

It may cause Immunosuppressant Drugs to become less effective and compromise a life preserving Kidney Transplant. In other cases, for Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients, grapefruit may inhibit the effectiveness of heart medication causing catastrophic Cardiovascular (Heart) Events. Also, pain medication can be diluted after ingesting grapefruit causing unnecessary discomfort and pain.

Although in some cases, patients may overcome complications of beverages interacting with their medication regimen by "spacing out foods [beverages] or medications by a few hours," according to Pillpack.com. However unfortunately, in the case of grapefruit, the chemical that disrupts medications can stay in a patient's system for days, so depending on spacing grapefruit from medication is still very risky.

Patients may avoid complications associated with hidden grapefruit in common beverages by sharing the list of beverages in question with their Healthcare Team and asking for safer alternatives. Also, Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients should check the labels of all drinks before consumption since this list highlights the fact that even if a drink does not look like it contains grapefruit - it still may.

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